Find Arthritis Relief Before Winter Sets In
Understanding & Managing Arthritis Symptoms
Does your arthritis pain seem to worsen with cooler weather? It’s not in your head—while weather changes don’t cause arthritis, they can worsen your symptoms, and many people report increased pain as the temperatures drop.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for over a hundred different conditions, all of which cause joint inflammation. However, most people have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms for both conditions are similar, but there are a few key differences:
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the world. It occurs when the cartilage in your joint degenerates over time—which is why your risk of developing it increases as you get older. Symptoms include the following:
- Pain in the impacted joint, particularly during activity
- Stiffness in the joint, particularly first thing in the morning
- Cracking, creaking, crunching, or other joint noises
Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common type, is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack the tissue in your joints. The primary symptoms are similar to osteoarthritis (joint pain and stiffness), but it can cause additional symptoms as well:
- Swelling in the joints
- Redness, warmth, or tenderness in the impacted area
- Flares of fatigue and just generally not feeling well
If you notice that weather tends to worsen your arthritis symptoms, schedule an appointment at Breckenridge Physical Therapy. Regular exercise is a great, all-natural way of managing arthritis pain, and we can help get you started with a customized treatment plan.
The holiday season is kicking into gear, and you don’t want to miss out on the fun due to your arthritis symptoms. Call now before things start to get really busy!
How Physical Therapy Will Help You Find Relief
Regardless of whether you’re suffering from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, Breckenridge Physical Therapy can help you ease your symptoms this winter. We’ll develop a personalized treatment plan based on your abilities and goals, offering acute and long-term pain relief.
Here’s what we can offer:
- Manual therapy to help with immediate pain relief and begin restoring mobility to the joint.
- Strengthening exercises to improve fitness, manage pain long-term, and help stabilize your impacted joints. We’ll let you know which movements and resistant levels suit your needs.
- An aerobic exercise program to get you moving regularly, even as the weather cools down. The combination of strength training and regular aerobic exercise will do wonders for managing arthritis-related pain and restricted range of motion throughout the holiday season!
- Movement modifications or mobility aids to ensure you can join in on the seasonal fun, no matter your limitations.
Celebrate a Pain-Free Holiday Season
Don’t let weather changes hold you back this year. Call Breckenridge Physical Therapy to get started with a customized program for managing arthritis!
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✍️ Leave a ReviewExercise of the Month
Median Nerve Glide
Stand tall with your arm extended in front of you at shoulder height, palm facing up. Use your opposite hand to gently grasp your thumb. Slowly extend your wrist and fingers back. Return to the starting position with control. Perform the motion gently and smoothly.
3 Sets, 10 Reps (each arm)
Materials Needed: None
Meet Our Team
Dr. Alexander Kuck
PT, DPT, C-PS
Dr. Ellie Allan
PT, DPT, C-PS
Dr. Justin Welch
PT, DPT, C-PS
🍁 Wild Rice & Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash
Embrace the flavors of fall with this comforting stuffed acorn squash. Packed with a hearty blend of wild rice, toasted pecans, sweet dried cranberries, and kale, it’s a nutritious, fiber-rich centerpiece perfect for cozy evenings.
Ingredients
- 2 medium acorn squashes, halved and seeded
- 1 cup wild rice blend, rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
- ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries (reduced sugar)
- 2 cups chopped kale, stems removed
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Brush the cut sides of the acorn squash with a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place face-down on the baking sheet.
- Roast the squash for 35–45 minutes until tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- While the squash roasts, cook the wild rice blend according to package directions.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced shallot in olive oil until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add the chopped kale and thyme to the skillet, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the kale is wilted.
- In a large bowl, toss together the cooked wild rice, sautéed kale mixture, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries.
- Flip the roasted squash halves over and scoop the rice mixture generously into their hollowed centers.
- Serve warm, optionally finished with a light drizzle of maple syrup.
